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7 (No Model.) 3 sheets sheet l.

A. HIGGINSON. COMBINED HAND AND STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 248,464. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. HIGGINSON.

COMBINED HAND AND STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 248,464. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. HIGGINSON. COMBINED HAND AND STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 248,464. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

UNITED STATES ANDREW HIGGINSON, OF LIVERPOOL, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

COMBINED HAND AND STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,464, dated October 18, 1881. Application filed March 29, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England August 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW HIGGINSON, of Liverpool,in thecounty ofLancaster,England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Hand and Steam Steering Apparatus for Ships and Navigable Vessels, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 3,320, bearing date August 18, 1879,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in steering apparatus or appliances in which steam-power is employed; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a suitable motive-power engine; second, to combine hand and steam steering apparatus or appliances in such manner that steering may be effected by hand or steam power at will; and, third, to enable combined hand and steam steering gear to be constructed in a durable, simple, and efficient manner.

I obtain the above objects by the apparatus or appliances illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section; Fig. 2, a back elevation, partly in section; Fig. 3, a plan; Fig. 4, a sectional view at the lineA A; and Fig. 5, view of the valve; all of the said combined steering apparatus or appliances.

1 is the bed-plate, which is secured to the deck of the ship or vessel, and carries the frame 2 2 2 of the steering machinery or appliances; 3, "trunnions, secured to the said frame-work by bolts 4, cylinders, fitting and held on the said trunnions by caps 5. Springs 6 are inserted between holding-bolts and the caps 5, to keep the cylinders and trunnions in contact. The trunnions 3 have two passages, 7 S, therethrough, opening into two ways, 9 10, cast or formed in the frame 2 and extending side by side to the valve-seat 11, where they terminate in ports 12 13. In" the cylinders, said valve-seat 11, which preferably consists of a brass plate, there are three ports, 14, one for each cylinder, which said ports open to the annular space 15. The annular space 15 is in communication with the exhaust-passage 16, cast or formed in the frame 2.

17 are pistons working in the cylinders 5 and connected to the crank-shaft 18 by means of the extension-pieces and caps 19. The crank:

shaft 18 is carried in bearings 20 21. The bearing 20 is formed with a flange, 22, and stem 23. The flange 22 serves to cover and keep tight the annular space 15, and is heldin position by bolts and the nut 24,-which is screwed on the inner portion of the stem 23. The circular valve 25 is fitted and is free to revolve on the outer portion of the stem 23, and is kept to its seat by the pressure of steam in the valve-box 26.

27 is a steam-inlet way to valve-box. The said valve is out' through in three places, 28, to allow steam to pass through the ports 12 13 to the cylinders. The said valve has also three D-shaped cavities, 29, on its face, through which steam passes from the cylinders and ports l2 13 through the ports 14 to the annular space 15 and exhaustpassage 16.

30 is a toothed quadrant secured to the spindle 31. and taking into a rack, 32, on the circular valve 25. The said spindle 31 passes through the stuffing-box 33 on the valve-box, and is supported at its upper end in a hearing, 34, ecured to the frame 2.

35isa shaftcounected to the spindle 31 by the joint 36, but free to turn without moving the spindle 31. The said shaft 35 has secured to it the bevel-toothed wheel 37, and is carried to the bridge and fitted with a hand-wheel for steering.

38 is a bevel-toothed wheel secured to the shaft 39 and gearing with the bevel-wheel 37. The shaft 39 is supported at oneendin the bear ing 40, and has on its other end the sleeve 41, carried in a bearing, 42. On the outer end of the sleeve 41 is fitted loosely the toothed wheel 43, which gears into the toothed pinion 44, secured on one end of the crank-shaft 18.

The toothed wheel 43 is held in position by the cap 45, which fits on the outer end of the shaft 39, and is held in place by the nut 46. The cap 45 has secured to it the steeringwheel 47, and is prevented from turning on the shaft 39 by the cotter 48, held in position by the set-screw 49. The said cotter 48 passes 5 through cap 45 and sleeve 41 into the shaft 39. A portion of the sleeve 41. is cut away, as shown in Fig. 4, to limit the movement of the said cap 45 and shaft 39 independent of the sleeve 41.

isarectangularlocking-boltfittinginto the recess 51 in the sleeve 41, and free to be moved to and fro in the slot 52, which is formed partly in the boss of the toothed wheel 43 and partly in the cap 45.

The shaft 39 has cut or formed on it, near its center, the screw-thread 54, on which is fitted the nut 55. One end of the said nut 55 is cylindrical, and fits within the enlarged and cylindrically-recessed portion 56 of the sleeve 41. The other end of the said nut has cut or formed in it the annular recess 57, and is made with the wings or feathers 58. The said wings or feathers 5S fit into and are free to move to and fro between the lugs 59 in the enlargement 56 of the sleeve 41, thereby preventing the one turning without the other.

60 is a strap fitting within the recess 57, and connected by the rod 61 to the lever-arm 62, secured to the spindle 31.

63 is a fine screw-thread cut or formed on the shaft 39.

64 is a nut and arm fitted on the thread 63, and connected by the link 65 to the indicator 66. The arm of the nut 64 fits over the rod 67 between the adjustable stops 68, which serve to control the travel of the nut 64.

69 is a toothed pinion secured to or cast with the sleeve 41, and gearing into thetoothed wheel 70. The toothed wheel 70 has attached to or formed with it the chain-wheel 71, over which the rudder-chains pass, and is free to revolve on the sleeve 72, carried by the frames 2 and 2", containing the bearings 21.

For steam-steering the action of the apparatus is as follows: The steering-wheel 47 is moved in one direction or the other, and carries with it the shaft 39. The motion of the shaft 39 causes the nut 55 to be screwed along the said shaft, and give motion through the strap 60, sliding bar 61, and levei arm 62 to the spindle 31. The spindle 31 imparts its motion to the quadrant 39, and by its means causes the circular valve 25 to move and uncover the ports 12 or 13. Steam then passes to the cylinders, and the pistons 17 move in one or other direction. The motion imparted by the pistons to the crank-shaft is communicated through the pinion 44, wheel 43, sleeve 41, and pinion 69 to the wheel 79 and chainwheel 71, thus acting on the rudder-chains. The sleeve 41, in rotating, carries with it the nut 55, and if the steering-wheel is at rest the said nut is screwed back along the shaft 39 until the circular valve 25 is moved so as to cover the steam-ports 12 1.3, and the engines come to rest.

It will be obvious that if the nut 55 is screwed into position to act on the circular valve and open the steam-ports the engines will receive steam and act on the rudder as long as the steering-wheel is kept rotating, but that as soon as the motion of the steering-wheel is arrested the nut will be screwed into position to cut off steam from the engines and arrest their motion.

If it is desired to steer from the bridge, the cotter 48 is removed and the shaft 35 is actuated. The shaft 39 and nut 55 will then receive motion from the shaft 35, and the steering-wheel will remain at rest when the lockingbolt- 50 is in the position shown. When it is desired to steer by hand only, the bolt 50 is moved into the position shown by the dotted lines. The wheel 43 is thereby disconnected from the sleeve 41, and motion is imparted to the rudder-chains directly through the pinion 69, toothed wheel 79, and chain-wheel 71.

Having described my invention,I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combined hand and steam steering gearing, constructed substantially as hereinbefore set forth-thatis to say, with steering wheels 47 secured to cap 45, said cap 45 being so arranged that it can be rigidly connected by means of the locking-bolt 50 to the sleeve 41 for hand-steering, and to the shaft 39 for steam-steering.

2. In combined hand and steam steering gear, the frame 2, formed with steam ways or passages 9, 10, and 16, and formed or fitted with a counter-shaft bearing, 49,snbstantially as set forth.

3. In hand and steam steering gear, the

combination of the sole or bed-plate 1, frames 9 2, 2, and 2", bearings 20, 21, 40, and 42, and sleeve 72, substantially as described.

4. The valve 25, having ports 23 and cavities 29, in combination with a valve-seat having ports 12, 13, and 14.

5. The combination of the sleeve 72, carrying externally the spur-wheel 70 and chainwheels 71, and internally the motive power crank-shaft bearing 21.

6. The combination of a locking-bolt, 50, with a sleeve, 41, spur-wheel 43, cap 45, and shaft 39.

7. The combination of the shaft 39, nut 55, strap 60, rod 61,lever 62, spindle 31, quadrant 30, rack 32, and valve 25.

ANDREW HIGGINSON.

Witnesses:

JAS. JOHNSON, JOHN RIGHMAN. 

